Union garment.



T. A. MILLER.

UNION GARMENT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, 1911.

1,033,437. Patented July 23, 1912.

Witnesses lnvenf r Attorhey's TQM A, MILLER, 9F DUBLIN,

UNION GARMENT.

Application filed April 5,

Tc (1Z5 whom it may concern Be it known that 1, Ton A. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dublin, in the county of Erath and State of Texas, have invented a ne and useful Union Garment, of whi h the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparel, and more especially to knitted union garments; and the object of the same is to produce an elastic garment of this character adapted to be used as underwear, principally by children. and provided with means for supporting the weight of other garments from the shoulders instead of from the waist line. These objects are accomplished by the con struction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as shown in the drawings wherein Figure l is a front elevation of this garment complete, in position on the person of a child. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the garment. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary yiew showing the double crossing of the tapes over each shoulder.

Union garments for underwear purposes are usually made of knit goods or fashioned in such way that they conform closely with the shape of the figure and are capable of stretching considerably at the necessary points, as over the knees and elbows; and as a result it is practically impossible to support other garments from the material of the underwear so made. Moreover. I find that when outer garments are supported from an under garment the latter is by their weight drawn forcibly and unpleasantly down upon and around the neck so that successful breathing is interfered with and eventually the underwear is torn. The result is that, in addition to union underwear,

means must be provided to support other garments either around the waist line or over the shoulders. The presentinvention is designed to combine the supporting means with underwear of the union garment type.

Corning now more particularly to the details, the letter U designates the garment as a whole, herein shown as of that type which buttons up the front as at F, possibly has a puekering string P around the neck, and may have a rear flap R adapted to be closed by buttons B. When other garments are to be attached to this union garment, additional buttons B are sewed thereto prefer-. ably at points slightly above the waist line,

Specification of Liters Fatent.

Fat-stated July 23, 13 12. Serial No. 619,148.

and in the drawings I have shown a garment which would have eight. of such buttons, there being one each at front and back, one at each side, and four others interposed between thcsc just mentioned. It is Well known, however, that when other garments are attached to buttons, the garment carrying the buttons is borne downward and es pecially at. one pointwhere the buttons occur; and in the case of knit or jersey material such as that of which union garments are made, it would soon have an injurious etfect upon the fabric, especially if the garment were worn by a child at play. I therefore extend tapes 1, 2 and 3 from points about at the waist linebuttons, upward over the shoulder, and down the back to the Waist line buttons at therear. The intermediate tape 2 runs straight from the front button over the shoulder to the rear button. The side tapes 1 and 3 start upward from their respective buttons and converge toward and cross the intermediate button and each other at the point t just forward of the shoulder, then over the shoulder they occupy the opposite relative position, 8 and 1, with the intermediate tape 2 showing a little between them as shown in Fig. 3, then just to the rear of the shoulder they again cross each other and the intermediate tape at the point 1 1, and finally they pass down the other side of the garment in the original order, 1 and 3, to the rearrnost buttons in a manner which will be clear. ()ver the shoulder, however, the side tapes where they deflected are not f r enough apart to expose the entire width of the intermediate tape, and. the result is that at the points 6 and 7, there are two thicknesses .of. tape, and quite a pad is produced which rests upon the shoulder of the wearer. All said tapes may Well be stitched to the union garment in any desired 'manner, but I prefer to use two lines of stitching as indicated in Fig. 3'. These may run along the edges ofeach tape as seen at -8 at the bottom of that view, and if so they will by preference occupy that position throughout the length ofthe tape. Just above the cross point 4 I have again indicated the several lines of stitching, and here it will be seen that there are two lines Son the tape 3, and two lines 9 on the tape 1, and

yet two othernlines 10 on the intermediate tape 2; so that at this point there are six lines of stitching, and SD! lines extend throughout the length of the pad and be yohd the other crossing point 14. These lines of stitching obviously thoroughly nforce the pad and attach it strongly to the material of which the undergarment is made, thereby resisting any strain which the child may throw upon the pad by reason of a sudden pull on some certain button. Thus in effect is made up a pair of suspenders, each having its center resting on a shoulder and its ends composed of three strands 1, 2 and 3.

The third strand of the front end of the left. Suspender-unites with the first strand of the front end of the right suspender at both back and front of the garment, and in a similar manner the outside strand of each suspender-end unites with the outside strand ofthc opposite end of the same suspender under the arm of the wearer. Therefore there will of course be but eight waist line buttons B as is usually found sufiicient for the attachment of all infant garments whether the wearer be male or female;

I might add that the material of which the tapes are composed is not important, nor their width or thickness; nor is it necessary that the several buttons be located exactly. as indicated or used at all for that matter, as they might be replaced by other fastening means. I wish, therefore, to be understood by the use of the word buttons as meaning any suitable fastening device, although it might be added that but tons would probably be the best for most children. I may repeat that the attaching means might well be passed through the tape and the union garment so as to hold all parts together. Finally, although the invention has been described as having particular reference to garments for children, it might be used with advantage on adults garments.

The side face 1 may be provided with any suitable means, such as indicated at 15, for attaching hose supporters to the garment.

It is to be understoodthat the improvements described and shown may be applied to any type of garment of the character set forth and that the buttons or other fasten ing devices can be located wherever desired.

It is to be understood that if desired the tapes 2mm be dispensed with.

What is claimed is 1. A union under garment composed of knitted fabric having 1ts upper portion relatively stiffened by means of a plurality of tapes or bands, comprising side tapes extending over the shoulders to the waist portion of the garment and central tapes or bands extending over the shoulders and to the center of the front and back of the waist portion, the lower portion of the garmentand that portion of the garment between the neck receiving opening and. the central tapes or bands being free from stiffening means and retaining the full natural elasticity of the knitted fabric of the garment.

2. An elastic knitted union garment having central tapes of non-elastic material sewed thereto and extending over the respective shoulders, said tapes converging to and lapping at the middle of the front and back of the waist portion of the garment, means secured to the lapping portions of the tapes for engaging and supporting a lower garment, all portions of said knitted garment between the converging tapes and between the engaging means and the neck re ceiving opening, retaining the full natural elasticity of'the knitted garment, side tapes of non-elastic material sewed to the elastic garment and extending over the respective shoulders, and means secured to the end portions of said side tapes for engaging and supporting a lower garment, the lower portion of said knitted garment being free of tapes and retaining the full natural elasticity of the knitted fabric.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

TOM A. M ILLER. Witnesses:

E. I. SNnAD, I. W. CUTTLER.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

